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Winooski Today
By the People, for the People
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Supports Water Quality Projects
Funding helps complete stream restoration and road improvements to reduce phosphorus runoff into Lake Champlain
Published on Mar. 11, 2026
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The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC), acting as the Clean Water Service Provider for the Northern Lake Champlain Basin, recently supported the completion of two new projects in 2025 to reduce phosphorus runoff into Lake Champlain. The CCRPC provided full funding for a stream restoration project in Colchester and contributed funds for improvements to Beebe Lane in Williston, which provides access to Lake Iroquois.
Why it matters
The projects are part of ongoing efforts to improve water quality in Lake Champlain, which has long struggled with excessive phosphorus levels that can lead to harmful algal blooms. By reducing phosphorus runoff, these initiatives aim to protect the lake's ecological health and recreational uses.
The details
The stream restoration project at the Wolcott Family Natural Area in Colchester used 'beaver dam analogs' to slow stream flow and reduce sediment and phosphorus erosion. The Beebe Lane improvements in Williston included gravel road stormwater treatment practices like cross-culverts, grass-lined swales, and ditch turnouts. The CCRPC's funding came from a Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant provided by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's Clean Water Initiative Program.
- The projects were completed in 2025.
- The CCRPC received its first Formula Grant from the state in late 2022.
The players
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC)
The regional planning commission that serves as the Clean Water Service Provider for the Northern Lake Champlain Basin.
Winooski Valley Parks District (WVPD)
The organization that manages the Wolcott Family Natural Area where the stream restoration project took place.
Lake Iroquois Recreation District
The group that obtained a Congressionally directed EPA Community Grant to help fund the Beebe Lane improvements.
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
The state agency that provided the Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant to the CCRPC.
What’s next
Several new water quality projects, including shoreline stabilization, stream restoration, and a large stormwater pond, are planned for construction in 2026.
The takeaway
The CCRPC's water quality initiatives demonstrate how regional planning and state-local partnerships can deliver tangible improvements to the health of Lake Champlain, a vital natural resource for Vermont communities.
